Prison Labor Exploitation Continues Under 13th Amendment's Slavery Exception

The 13th Amendment abolishes slavery 'except as a punishment for crime.' In 2020, approximately 2.3 million people — 38% Black — were incarcerated. Prison labor is paid $0.13 to $0.52 per hour; in some states, nothing. Corporations including McDonald's, Walmart, and Starbucks have used prison labor through government contracts. Alabama and South Carolina state prisons were found by federal courts to have unconstitutional conditions.